The Highlander Limited's optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The X3 doesn't offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Highlander are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X3 doesn't offer height-adjustable seat belts.

To help make backing safer, the Highlander Limited/Platinum's cross-path warning system uses wide-angle radar in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The X3 doesn't offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Highlander and the X3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the BMW X3:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the BMW X3:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Highlander its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2016, a rating granted to only 73 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X3 has not been fully tested, yet.

Toyota's powertrain warranty covers the Highlander 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 3 times as many Toyota dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Highlander's warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without their vehicle while it's being repaired. Consumer Reports predicts that the Highlander's reliability will be 38% better than the X3.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2015 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota third in reliability, above the industry average. With 35 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 18th.

The Highlander's optional 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 30 more horsepower (270 vs. 240) than the X3 s/xDrive28i's standard 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander uses regular unleaded gasoline. The X3 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Highlander has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the X3 (19.2 vs. 17.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Highlander stops shorter than the X3:

The Highlander has standard seating for 8 passengers; the X3 can only carry 5.

The Highlander has 4.3 inches more front legroom, .9 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 1.6 inches more rear legroom and 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the X3.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Highlander's middle and third row seats recline. The X3's rear seats don't recline.

The Highlander's cargo area provides more volume than the X3.

The Highlander's optional rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The X3's rear cargo window doesn't open.

The Highlander Limited/Platinum's front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches. The X3's rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Highlander has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X3 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn't as good.

Standard air conditioned seats in the Highlander Limited/Platinum keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The X3 doesn't offer air conditioned seats.

The Highlander XLE/Limited/Platinum has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The X3 doesn't offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Insurance will cost less for the Highlander owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Highlander will cost $735 less than the X3 over a five-year period.

The Highlander will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The Intellichoice estimates that the Highlander will retain 58.27% to 61.09% of its original price after five years, while the X3 only retains 49.61% to 51.23%.

Intellichoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Highlander will be $7261 to $10718 less than for the BMW X3.

The Toyota Highlander has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Highlander second among midsize SUVs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner's expectations. The X3 isn't in the top three in its category.